Alastair Kellock released by Scotland

Scotland release Alastair Kellock so he can captain Glasgow in this Friday's RaboDirect PRO12 match with Cardiff.

Last Updated: 28/02/13 5:45pm

Alastair Kellock: Will captain Glasgow against Cardiff

The 31-year-old lock has appeared as a replacement in all of Scotland's three Six Nations fixtures so far, including last Sunday's 12-8 win over Ireland.

Kellock is one of three players Scotland have released back to the Warriors, along with Duncan Weir and Jon Welsh.

The trio will link up with a Warriors side looking to record their seventh successive league win and keep the pressure up on leaders Ulster, who they beat 20-14 last week.

Glasgow head coach Gregor Townsend said: "It's nice to be able to welcome back those who have been on international duty and they will provide us with different options for this week's game.

"With those internationals back it makes selecting a starting XV that much harder as the squad has been performing at a very high level. Each player knows that they cannot take their place for granted as the quality of the squad is improving all the time.

Proud

"They are driving each other to higher levels and that is fantastic for the coaches to see in training and what that can mean when they take to the pitch.

"I was very proud of how the players performed against Ulster on Friday night, but we know we can't let the intensity drop against a Cardiff side who have shown already this year they are capable of beating the best sides in the league."

Townsend has also included Gordon Reid, who missed the Ulster game after suffering a concussion in the previous week's record-breaking 60-3 victory of Newport Gwent Dragons.

DTH van der Merwe, who was stretchered from the pitch as a precaution last week, starts again on the left wing with Byron McGuigan on the opposite side in place of Tommy Seymour, who picked up an injury in training.

Niko Matawalu continues at scrum-half, with Weir returning as his half-back